Nirvana is a well understood word in common English usage, at least vaguely close enough to understand that 'nirvana' is a heavenly, an exalted or supreme realization.
So why not leave it untranslated, English translators?
In this sutta, leaving it untranslated educates them on the connection to the original pre-buddhist meaning of extinguishing a fire.
(ānanda replies)
So why not leave it untranslated, English translators?
In this sutta, leaving it untranslated educates them on the connection to the original pre-buddhist meaning of extinguishing a fire.
SN 8.4 ānanda
(name of monk who needs no intro)
SN 8.4 ānanda-suttaṃ
| SN 8.4 ānanda-discourse |
ekaṃ samayaṃ āyasmā ānando
| One time, Venerable Ānanda, |
sāvatthiyaṃ viharati
| (at) Sāvatthī (he) dwelled, |
jeta-vane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
| (in) Jeta’s-Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. |
atha kho āyasmā ānando
| Then ***, Venerable Ānanda, |
pubbaṇha-samayaṃ nivāsetvā
| before-noon-time, having-dressed, |
patta-cīvaram-ādāya
| (with) bowl-(and)-robe-taken, |
sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi
| (to) Sāvatthī (for) alms (he) entered, |
āyasmatā vaṅgīsena pacchāsamaṇena.
| (with) Venerable Vaṅgīsa [walking] behind. |
tena kho pana samayena āyasmato vaṅgīsassa
| Now at that time Venerable Vaṅgīsa |
anabhirati uppannā hoti,
| {had} dis-satisfaction arise ****, |
rāgo cittaṃ anuddhaṃseti.
| lust {degraded} (his) mind **********. |
atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso
| Then the Venerable Vaṅgīsa, |
āyasmantaṃ ānandaṃ
| (to) Venerable Ānanda, |
gāthāya ajjhabhāsi —
| (through) verse (he) addressed: |
verse
♦ “kāma-rāgena ḍayhāmi,
| (with) sensuality-(and)-lust (I) burn, |
cittaṃ me pari-ḍayhati.
| Mind (of) mine completely-burns. |
♦ sādhu nibbāpanaṃ brūhi,
| [the] thorough Nirvana-[fire extinguishing]-process, [please] explain, |
anu-kampāya gotamā”ti.
| Out-of-compassion, Gotama. |
♦ “saññāya vipariyesā,
| (your) perceptions (are) inverted, |
cittaṃ te pari-ḍayhati.
| [so the] mind (of) yours completely-burns, |
♦ nimittaṃ pari-vajjehi,
| (the) sign (to) completely-avoid: |
subhaṃ rāg-ūpasaṃhitaṃ.
| beauty connected-with-lust |
♦ “saṅkhāre parato passa,
| Co-doings; alien (they should be) seen (as), |
dukkhato mā ca attato.
| pain-&-suffering, not the self. |
♦ nibbāpehi mahā-rāgaṃ,
| Nirvanify [extinguish] (the) massive-lust, |
mā ḍayhittho punap-punaṃ.
| don’t burn again-(and)-again. |
♦ “a-subhāya cittaṃ bhāvehi,
| Non-beautiful [perceptions] (the) mind develops, |
ek’-aggaṃ su-samāhitaṃ.
| Singular-preoccupation, well-(developed)-undistractible-lucidity. |
♦ sati kāya-gatā ty-atthu,
| remembrance (of) body-condition, |
nibbidā-bahulo bha.
| disenchantment-(in)-abundance ***. |
♦ “a-nimittañca bhāvehi,
| Sign-less [meditation] (you) develop, |
mān-ānusaya-mujjaha.
| conceit’s-tendency,-discard. |
♦ tato mān-ābhisamayā,
| thereupon (with) conceit-penetrated, |
upasanto carissasī”ti.
| (in) peace (you) abide. |
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